Electron tube socket with spark gap



Sept. 9, 1969 P. 1.. CRELLIN ELECTRON TUBE SOCKET WITH SPARK GAP Filed Sept. 14, 1967 INVENTOR. PETER L. CRELL/N ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,466,492 ELECTRON TUBE SOCKET WITH SPARK GAP Peter Lewis 'Crellin, Buffalo, N.Y., assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 667,686 Int. Cl. H01j /50 U.S. Cl. 313-331 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A socket for electron tubes includes a wall member forming a central aperture, circumferentially spaced apertures exterior of the wall member, an electrical connector in each exterior aperture, a metal ring having indentations and protuberances disposed in the central aperture, and passageways intermediate the metal ring and the exterior apertures.

The prior art suggests numerous types of electron ture. For example, one known type of spark gap socket includes an apertured ring of insulating material intermediate a metal ground ring and the electrical connectors adapted to receive the pin terminals of an electron discharge device. Another spark gap socket, known to applicant, suggests a metal ring having lug portions bent to provide a spark gap intermediate thereto and the Weld- :a potential arcing capability which is difficult to alter or adjust, or have undesired arcing potential variations due to component distortions during assembly or utilization in electrical apparatus.

Objects and summary of the invention.

An object of the invention is to provide an electron discharge device spark gap socket of enhanced arcing podischarge device sockets which include a spark gap fea- I tential reliability. Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive electron discharge device spark gap socket having an arcing capability of improved reliability and repeatability. A further 0 object of the invention is to provide an improved electron discharge device spark gap socket having a readily alterable spark gap capability.

Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in one aspect of the invention by a spark gap electron discharge device socket having a wall member forming a central aperture, a plurality of circumferentially spaced and arrayed channels on the interior of the wall member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced and arrayed apertures surrounding the wall member with an electrical connector disposed in each aperture, a passageway intermediate each of the channels and apertures, and a metal vring disposed within the central aperture and having a plurality of protuberances and indentations each of which is aligned with one of the channels and passageways.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2 illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the metal ring portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

3,466,492 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 Description of the preferred embodiment For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and appended claims in conjunction with the following description.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates, in crosssection, an electron discharge device spark gap socket. The socket includes two substantially circular-shaped portions which may be designated as the body section 5 and the support section 7. These body and support sections 5 and 7 are disposed in concentric face to face relationship and permanently secured such as by a stud 9 extending therethrough.

The body section 5, which is of a shape retaining electrical insulating material such as Bakelite, includes a pair of substantially planar surfaces 11 and 13 substantially normal to one another, a wall member 15 forming a central aperture 17, and a plurality of circumferentially arrayed and spaced apertures 19 surrounding the wall member 15 and extending intermediate the substantially planar surfaces 13 and 15. An electrical connector 21 having a pin-receiving portion 23 and a welding-lug portion 25 is disposed within each one of the apertures 19. The electrical connector 21 is formed such that the pinreceiving portion 23 faces the one planar surface 11 in position to receive the terminal pins on the base of the electron discharge device and the welding-lug portion 25 faces the other planar surface 13 in position for attachment thereto of an electrical conductor 27.

The wall member 15 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced and arrayed channels 29 on the inner surface thereof and each one of the channels 29 is circumferentially aligned with one of the apertures 19. Also, the wall member 15 has a passageway 31 extending intermediate each one of the channels 29 and one of the apertures 19.

Disposed within the central aperture 17 is a metal ring 33 which is aligned with all of the passageways 31 extending intermediate each of the channels 29 and apertures 19. As can best be seen in the enlarged plan view of FIG. 3, the metal ring 33 has peripheral surface 35 with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and arrayed protuberances 37 and indentations 39. Each one of the protuberances 37 and indentations 39 is aligned with one of the channels 29 as wall as with the passageway 31 extending intermediate each of the channels 29 and apertures 19.

As can best be seen in the plan view of FIG. 2, the protuberances 37 and indentations 39 of the metal ring 33 are in alignment with the passageway 31 intermediate each of the channels 29 and apertures 19.'Also, each of the passageways 31 is in alignment with the pin-receiving portion 23 of each electrical connector disposed with each of the apertures 19. Thus, a spark gap is provided intermediate the metal ring 33 and each one of the pinreceiving portions 23 of the electrical connectors 21. Also, the arcing potential of each spark gap is dependent upon the particular protuberance 37 or indentation 39 associated with the particular electrical connector 21. Moreover, the protuberance 37 and indentations 39 of the metal ring 33 are independently adjustable to provide a desired arcing potential for any one of the electrical connectors 21.

Additionally, a conductor 27 is electrically coupled to a voltage reference level such as circuit ground and to one of the electrical connectors 21. This particular electrical connector 21 is electrically connected to the metal ring 33 by an electrical conductor 41, such as solder for example, disposed within the passageway intermediate the connector 21 and the metal ring 33. Thus, the metal ring 33 is essentially at ground potential with a spark gap formed intermediate thereto and the pin-receiving portion 23 of each one of the electrical connectors 21.

Further, the support means 7 is of an electrical insulating material and serves to assist in maintaining the electrical connectors 21 within a desired positional location within the socket body 5. Also, the support means 7 tends to electrically insulate the electrical connectors 21 and prevent bodily contact therewith.

Thus, there has been provided a unique electron discharge device spark gap socket having numerous advantages over prior known spark gap sockets. The socket is economical of construction, materials, and assembly and provides a plurality of individual spark gaps having a predetermined arcing potential which is readily and economically alterable. Also, the socket provides readily repeatable spark gaps having a uniform and consistant arcing potential. Moreover, the spark gaps are, for all practical purposes, independent and substantially unaffected by distortion of the components within the socket body which is an undesirable condition frequently encountered during attachment of electrical conductor elements thereto.

While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spark gap electron discharge device socket comprising in combination:

a socket body of electrical insulating material having a wall member forming a central aperture and a plurality of circumferentially spaced and arrayed apertures surrounding said wall member, said wall member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and arrayed inner channels aligned with said apertures and a passageway intermediate each of said channels and one of said apertures;

an electrical connector disposed within each of said apertures in alignment with said passageway; and

a metal ring having a plurality of peripheral protuberances and indentations aligned with said channels and disposed within said central aperture, each of said protuberances and indentations being aligned with one of said passageways to provide a spark gap intermediate said metal ring and each of said electrical connectors with one of said electrical connectors electrically connected to said metal ring.

2. The spark gap electron discharge device socket of claim 1 wherein each of said electrical connectors includes a pin-receiving portion and a welding-lug portion with each of said pin-receiving portions disposed in substantial alignment with one of said passageways of said wall member.

3. The spark gap electron discharge device socket of claim 1 wherein said socket body includes a pair of sub stantially planar surfaces in substantially normal relationship to each other, said circumferentially spaced and arrayed apertures extend intermediate said surfaces, and each of said electrical connectors has a pin-receiving portion facing one of the planar surfaces and 'a welding-lug portion facing the other of the planar surfaces.

4. The spark gap electron discharge device socket of claim 1 wherein said passageways of said channels and said peripheral protuberances and indentations of said metal ring are in the same plane substantially normal to the axis of said central aperture.

5. The spark gap electron discharge device socket of claim 1 including a support means affixed to said socket body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,319,108 5/1967 Smith 313331 3,351,803 11/1967 Kearney 313-331 JOHN W. HUCKERT, Primary Examiner SIMON BRODER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 313-325 

